Decarbonizing Canada's homes and buildings is the only form of climate action that reduces emissions while also directly protecting Canadians from extreme weather. We develop and advocate for policies that make Canada's homes and buildings—our third-largest source of emissions—healthier, safer, more resilient to extreme weather, and affordable to heat and cool.
Buildings
Retrofits play a role in not only decarbonizing buildings, but adapting them for increasingly extreme weather
![Side of modular home being craned into position](/sites/default/files/styles/1000/public/node_images/buildings.png?itok=BONxixbC)
Energy efficiency creates more jobs than any other industry
An average of 9.5 jobs are created for every $1 million invested in a whole-building energy efficiency retrofit. (Data sources: Statistics Canada and Efficiency Canada; see Canada’s Renovation Wave (2021))
Key numbers
Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate
Our latest report, Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate, underscores the urgent need to retrofit existing buildings to protect Canadians' health and safety.
Read the reportResearch & Analysis
![Vancouver City Hall](/sites/default/files/styles/sm_md/public/2024-07/Vancouver_City_Hall.jpg?itok=0EQvEXPd)
Vancouver council's natural gas amendment jeopardizes affordable, climate-resilient buildings
Returning to gas is a step backward in decarbonization![Portrait of Betsy Agar](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2024-05/betsy-24.jpg?itok=5thxvND3)
![Healthy Buildings cover with old apartment building](/sites/default/files/styles/sm_md/public/2024-07/Cover-template-cover-sm.jpg?itok=4NsKOgHz)
Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate
Improving health with multi-unit residential building retrofits![Portrait of Betsy Agar](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2024-05/betsy-24.jpg?itok=5thxvND3)
![Portrait of Raidin Blue](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2024-05/raidin-24.jpg?itok=yFPfvGDi)
![Ranking of climate policies from the ten provincial governments and federal government against our policy indicators](/sites/default/files/styles/sm_md/public/2024-07/Figure%201%20-%20all%20provinces.png?itok=-G0RU4nc)
Environmental checkup: reviewing governments’ clean-economy performance
As Canada’s environment ministers prepare to meet, we examined how their governments are performing on climate, energy, and preparedness for the clean economy.![Portrait of Sarah McBain](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2024-05/sarahmcb-24.jpg?itok=nf3BIhSZ)
Why focus on buildings?
A tangible, results-driven solution
Buildings are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially in Canada. One of the best ways to lower emissions and increase infrastructure resiliency is through deep retrofits—a holistic energy efficiency upgrade that improves occupant health and makes housing more affordable.
What does a deep retrofit include?
- Low-carbon materials
- New technologies (like heat pumps)
- Smart integration with electricity grids
![Building retrofit worker](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/retrofit-roof.jpg?itok=BhYecaVA)
Reimagining what is possible, one building at a time
The Reframed Initiative shows how deep retrofits provide many beyond-energy benefits like homes that are healthy, safe, resilient, and affordable to heat and cool. Our research signals a shift away from business-as-usual upgrades to deep retrofits as a benefit-rich pathway to decarbonization and adaptation.
![Buildings tour](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/buildings-passivetour.jpg?itok=nfinfZGv)
![Portrait of Betsy Agar](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/betsy-24.jpg?itok=eV_fs7lp)
Contact our Buildings team
![Buildings team, circa 2024](/sites/default/files/styles/1000/public/2024-05/53758803410_62cd96af64_k.jpg?itok=P9e3KWe6)
Program Director
Betsy Agar
c: 604-245-1387
e: betsya@pembina.org
Media Contact
Sarah Snowdon (Eastern Time)
c: 416-838-3423
e: sarahs@pembina.org
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